I've had the same difficulty with the curb bit, but not because the mouthpiece of the bit itself doesn't fit, but because on a cheaper curb, the purchase is not wide enough, as it goes directly up from the mouthpiece and rubs the bone on the cheek. I've even seen curbs where the purchase angles slightly IN from the bit, big no-no on our horses. With a curb bit with a port, and no joint, there is no give in the purchase, so the purchase must be short enough to go below the cheek-bone or wide enough to not rub.

What are you saying? That one should fit and one shouldn't? The smaller curb didn't fit because the rings where the bridle connects, that area, was too small.
Nothing is to my horse's expense. I went through lot of trouble to find stuff that fits and I don't need you saying otherwise. I know how to check for fit, and I'm just telling you what fits. Curbs and snaffles are built differently so obviously they fit differently.Posted via Mobile Device

Your horse's mouth either wears a 5" or a 5 1/2" bit properly, not both. It is not physically possible.
If a snaffle is a bit too wide, it can work, and sometimes it is better when it is, such as with a loose ring snaffle (to avoid pinching.)
A curb however, does need to fit true to size, and properly.
What you're saying is that a snaffle, that is smaller than a supposedly properly fitting curb, fits your horse correctly; this is not possible.
What is possible however, is that your curb is either too wide, or your snaffle is too narrow.
Your horse's jaw does not defy physics.

The curb and snaffle are 5 1/4 inch, not 5. The 5 1/2 inch curb just gives him a little more room.Posted via Mobile Device

What are you saying? That one should fit and one shouldn't? The smaller curb didn't fit because the rings where the bridle connects, that area, was too small.
Nothing is to my horse's expense. I went through lot of trouble to find stuff that fits and I don't need you saying otherwise. I know how to check for fit, and I'm just telling you what fits. Curbs and snaffles are built differently so obviously they fit differently.Posted via Mobile Device

Yes, snaffles and curbs fit differently - a snaffle should be a 1/4 inch wider than a curb you would use on the same horse. Hence our confusion. Not trying to offend you or start an argument, but it does sound strange that a curb would be too narrow but the same size snaffle is fine, when the snaffle should be wider than the curb (even wider if it's a loose ring as they pinch). It's great if you've managed to fit it, and it makes more sense if it does actually fit - but that's where the confusion was coming from.

I understand that you're confused, but I just don't know what to say.
So are you saying the curb should be too narrow? Or the snaffle?Posted via Mobile Device

I would have expected that if a 5" curb was too narrow, then the snaffle would have been even narrower, as the snaffle fit should always be wider. If he fitted a 5" snaffle, I would have thought a 4 3/4 " curb would have fitted. But like you say, it's one of those weird things - and it sound alike you've sorted him for a fit, and that's the important thing (:

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